Page 7 - Islands Business September 2023

Briefs Briefs
at 18, joining most of their peers in other Pacific countries
except Nauru and Tonga,” reads the COI report. Demographic
New Caledonia projections suggest 9000 new voters would be added to the
New Caledonia’s Territorial Chamber of Accounts has called roll if the recommendation is accepted.
on the local government to accelerate tax reforms to improve
efficiency and modernise the tax system following its audit
of the tax system. The report noted a drop in tax revenue Solomon Islands
due to a lower-than-expected tax return from the general Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Vice Chancellor,
consumption tax (TGC) and said delays in undertaking tax Professor Transform Aqorau, has terminated the contracts of
reforms led to massive borrowing to overcome budgetary the final three staff members involved in the Wakaman Inc
difficulties. printing scandal. The scandal, which was prompted by reports
of irregularities and financial discrepancies related to printing
services provided by Wakaman Inc, a company that does not
Niue own a printing machine. Three other staff members have
National Geographic Pristine Seas and the governments of been sacked over the matter. “It is a painful undertaking,
Niue and Tofia Niue, are undertaking a scientific survey to but we must ensure that we maintain the highest level of
further document difficult-to-reach marine areas in Niue’s probity,” Professor Aqorau said.
Moana Mahu Marine Protected Area (MPA). “Niue’s ambitious
ocean protection shows the world that protecting and
carefully managing marine areas is an increasingly important Tonga
line of defence against the rising threats to the ocean and its Over 70,000 Tongans living in the United States will now have
biodiversity—from climate change, pollution, overharvesting access to Tongan passport printing services in California.
and illegal fishing,” said Pristine Seas Chief of Staff, Dan Tonga Wires reports the Crown Prince, Tupuoto‘a ‘Ulukalala,
Myers. launched the new Tongan passport printing services in San
Francisco and said the development recognised the important
contribution the diaspora makes to the Tongan economy. “For
over 20 years, the passport applications for Tongans here in
Palau America were sent to Tonga and could take weeks, up to even
Palau’s Senate has called for an audit of the Palau months,” the Crown Prince said. The new service will cut that
Stablecoin Project, questioning the programme’s legality. waiting time down to just days.
Senate President, Hokkons Baules, expressed concern that
government resources are employed to conduct a programme
that has yet to be authorised by law. The stablecoin bill was Tuvalu
not sent to Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) before the pilot project Tuvalu’s Foreign Minister, Simon Kofe, has resigned from
launch. “It is not yet ready, and they want it. Let’s do it right Cabinet. “With only four months left before Parliament
and submit it to them for study,” said President Surangel dissolves, I believe it’s time to channel my energies into
Whipps Jnr. Palau launched Palau stablecoin, “kluk,” in completing the essential constitutional review work,” Kofe
July using the Ripple Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) said in a Facebook post in July. Tuvalu began a review of its
platform. constitution in 2016. Parliament’s five-member constitutional
review select committee has recommended changes aimed
at improving the stability of government, but sticking points
Papua New Guinea remain including transparent appointment, removal and
Papua New Guinea is planning to conduct its national census discipline of police officers; removing Cabinet’s power to
next June, four years later than originally scheduled. The appoint judges and a prohibition on discrimination on the
Post Courier reports National Statistician, John Igitoi as basis of sex.
confirming the change. Igitoi said $K150 million is required
for the census, which will also be digitised for the first time.
The government said the delay in conducting the census was Vanuatu
mainly due to the pandemic and funding constraints. The Vanuatu narrowly avoided a political crisis as Prime Minister
country’s last census was held in 2010. Ishmael Kalsakau survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament
on August 16. The vote was defeated as the Opposition failed
to achieve an absolute majority of 27 votes. The putsch was
led by former Prime Minister and Opposition Leader, Bob
Samoa
A Commission of Inquiry (COI) has recommended Samoa Loughman, who criticised Kalsakau’s foreign policy decisions,
saying in the no-confidence motion that they had undermined
lower its voting age from 21 to 18. The recommendation is Vanuatu’s independence, sovereignty, and position as a non-
part of the recommendations of a COI which investigated aligned state.
the 2021 General Election. “The majority supported voting

Islands Business, September 2023 7